Featured Image Credit: @KariLake/Twitter
Topics: Conspiracy Theories, US News, Washington, Aliens, Weather, Science
Liv Bridge
Topics: Conspiracy Theories, US News, Washington, Aliens, Weather, Science
A mysterious object seen darting above Washington DC has people 'freaking out' over terrifying theories.
Earlier this week, an unusual streak or 'orb' appeared to zoom across Washington DC on radar loops, igniting fears from government weather modifications to possible extraterrestrial visitors.
The anomaly was spotted by Kari Lake, a special advisor to the US Agency for Global Media, who tweeted: "What is this zooming across the radar over Washington DC?
"I just pulled up radar to check on the massive storm overhead and noticed an anomaly on the radar loop."
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The green dart appeared at around the same time a severe storm rolled into the area with heavy rain, wind and lightening.
"Anyone know what is shooting across the radar over Washington DC around 3:30pm?," the politician added.
Dozens in the comments then jumped to share some pretty wild theories, as many said they believed it was evidence that the 'federal government is changing the weather'.
"Aliens," another simply said.
Another said the discovery has people 'freaking out,' as a third posted: "Watch as what seems like a Laser Beam shoots across Washington DC Just as a major storm front is approaching! Almost as if they are FEEDING this storm or enhancing it!"
However, while certainly appearing unusual, atmospheric scientist, meteorologist and self-proclaimed 'storm chaser', Matthew Cappuci, put all the theories to bed and said: "This is the result of an obstruction from a structure east of @NWS_BaltWash’s Dulles-based radar. (This is common with water towers/cell towers blocking the radar beam.)
"That can cause a bit of the emitted radar beam to bounce back to radar/cause spurious signal."
Despite the frenzy, Matthew said the signals are pretty frequent, adding: "These type of artifacts are common. You also will see things like ground clutter, superrefraction, etc.; sometimes we can even spot birds, butterflies, planes and meteors on weather radar!"
In a follow-up video, Matthew said the signal has sent 'conspiracy theories flying' but said, for scientists, 'it's not a mystery'.
He pointed out that the National Weather Service in Sterling is situated near runway 19 and has a WSR 88D radar.
The radar projects at half a degree elevation, he continued, 'so just over the horizontal, but something is blocking a slither of that beam'.
Checking the FAA, he pointed out there are several tall antennas in the beam's path with one giant one in particular most likely causing the radar blip.
"It turns out to be a communication tower for the airport's fire department," he continued.
"On Google Maps, you can even see the shadow from the tower.
"And so when the radar beam is shooting out energy that bounces off a thunderstorm, sometimes it bounces off the thunder storm, then to the tower, then back to the radar, plotting a weird erroneous signal."
Phew.